Here are all the developments on the Venezuela crisis from January 22 until February 13.

Click here for the latest updates on the Venezeuala crisis

Venezuela has plunged into a major political crisis amid a growing dispute over President Nicolas Maduro’s future as the country’s leader. 

Maduro took office for a second term on January 10 on the basis of what was by many condemned as a fraudulent election last May.

The opposition, alongside Juan Guaido, rejected Maduro’s claim, and on January 23, Guaido self-proclaimed interim president.

The United States alongside Canada, and more than 20 other countries, have recognised Guaido’s presidential bid. But China, Turkey, Iran, Russia and Cuba stand by Maduro.

Below find all the updates from January 22 to April 11. For the latest developments click here. 

Thursday, April 11

Pompeo: China financing of Maduro prolongs Venezuela crisis

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China’s financing of President Nicolas Maduro’s government is prolonging the crisis in Venezuela.

Pompeo kicked off a four-country tour of Latin America on Friday in Chile. He met with President Sebastian Pinera in Santiago, where they discussed Venezuela’s crisis and the US-China trade war, among other issues.

Pompeo said China is a major US trading partner, but that its “trade activities often are deeply connected to their national security mission, their technological goals, their desire to steal intellectual property, to have forced technology transfer, to engage in activity that is not economic.”

Colombia gets $31.5m for hosting Venezuelan migrants

The international community is providing a $31.5m grant to help Colombia accommodate Venezuelan migrants and refugees as well as the communities that host them.

The funds provided by the Global Concessional Financing Facility – a platform launched in 2016 by the World Bank, the United Nations and the Islamic Development Bank- will be part of a $750m development policy operation being prepared by the World Bank to support Colombia.

The World Bank said in a press release that the annual cost of hosting more than 1.2 million migrants and refugees from Venezuela is currently estimated at around 0.4 percent of Colombia’s economic output.

US sanctions companies sending Venezuelan oil to Cuba

The US Treasury on Friday unveiled financial sanctions on four maritime shipping companies and nine of their oil tankers over crude deliveries to Cuba, to pressure Havana to end support for Venezuela.

The sanctions raise US pressure on the “the illegitimate regime of former President Nicolas Maduro”, the Treasury said in a statement.

The US sanctions targeted three Liberian shipping corporations and one based in Italy. Of the nine tankers penalised, four had delivered Venezuelan crude to Cuba. The sanctions freeze US-based assets of the company and also block them from much of the global financial system.

Thursday, April 11

IMF, WB ready to respond to Venezuelan humanitarian crisis

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) have said they are ready to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela once their participation is requested.

But President Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez have shunned the two international lending agencies, which they accuse of imposing damaging austerity policies on nations they aid.

Washington to decide on Repsol’s Venezuela activity: US envoy

The United States will make a decision about Spanish oil company Repsol’s activity in Venezuela in coming days, US Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams said on Thursday.

Since the US imposed fresh sanctions on Venezuela and its state-run oil firm PDVSA in January, the country’s main oil and oil products suppliers have been Repsol, Russian state oil major Rosneft, India’s Reliance Industries and trading houses Vitol and Trafigura, according to sources and vessel-tracking data.

Repsol has said it fully complies with all legislation and sanctions regarding Venezuela and closely monitors the situation on a cargo-by-cargo basis.

Wednesday, April 10

Red Cross tripling budget for work in Venezuela

The International Committee of the Red Cross will triple its budget in Venezuela this year as it helps authorities address mounting humanitarian concerns in the politically turbulent nation.

The trip took him to several public hospitals, slums and migrant centres that have seen the worst of a social crisis expected to worsen as US financial sanctions take effect.

Red Cross President Peter Maurer said his Geneva-based organisation is tripling its budget this year in Venezuela to around $24m and almost doubling its staff to around 180 people.

Pence says US wants Maduro out and ‘all options’ on table

US Vice President Mike Pence told the Security Council on Wednesday that the Trump administration is determined to restore democracy to Venezuela, preferably through diplomatic and economic pressure, but “all options are on the table” – and Russia and others need to step aside.

Venezuela’s UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada said the country is threatened with war by the Trump administration, “and the ground is being laid for an invasion”. He told the council: “We must stop this war of Donald Trump”.

The United States called an emergency meeting of the UN’s most powerful body, which is deeply divided over Venezuela, to focus on the worsening humanitarian situation in Venezuela.

IMF: No transactions with Venezuela while leadership in doubt

The International Monetary Fund will not have any contact with Venezuela, nor allow the country to access its reserves held by the institution, until the international community recognises a government in Caracas, an IMF spokesman said on Wednesday.

The country’s leadership has been in question since late January when national assembly leader Juan Guaido challenged embattled President Nicolas Maduro as the country’s acute economic crisis worsened.

US wants UN to revoke credentials of Maduro’s government

US Vice President Mike Pence called on the United Nations on Wednesday to revoke the UN credentials of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government and recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader.

He said the United States had drafted a UN resolution and called on all states to support it.

Read more here.

Maduro government a threat to US national security: Pompeo

President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Venezuela poses a threat to the United States, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, referring to the increased involvement of Russia, Iran and Cuba in the country.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that … the Maduro regime presents a threat to the United States of America,” Pompeo told a US congressional hearing.

The Trump administration has said that Maduro has surrounded himself with Cuban security and intelligence officials, and told Moscow to withdraw some 100 Russian troops that arrived in Venezuela in March.

US wants UN to revoke credentials of Maduro’s government

US Vice President Mike Pence called on the United Nations on Wednesday to revoke the UN credentials of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government and recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader.

He said the United States had drafted a UN resolution and called on all states to support it.

Diplomats said it is unlikely Washington will get the support needed to adopt such a measure.

Crucial oil output plunges in Venezuela

OPEC says Venezuela pumped 960,000 barrel of oil a day in March, a one-third drop from the previous month in a country enduring US oil sanctions and nationwide blackouts.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced the figures in a monthly report that was released on Wednesday.

Venezuela’s oil output has been in decline and it pumped about three times as much oil two decades ago.

UN official sees increasing crisis in Venezuela

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said Venezuela’s humanitarian problem has worsened and “the scale of need is significant and growing” – with seven million people representing 25 percent of the population needing humanitarian aid.

Lowcock told a Security Council meeting called by the United States on Wednesday that the UN is working to expand humanitarian aid, but that much more is needed.

He said there’s “a need to separate political and humanitarian objectives” and urged the council’s support “to safeguard the neutral and impartial nature of humanitarian action”.

Red Cross regains entry to Venezuela jails, military prisons

The International Committee of the Red Cross has regained access to prisons in Venezuela, including highly guarded military facilities where dozens of inmates considered political prisoners are being held, as President Nicolas Maduro seeks to counter mounting criticism of his government’s human rights record.

The fact that the visits include military prisons, which hadn’t been previously reported, was confirmed to The Associated Press by a human rights lawyer and family members of those detained.

International Red Cross President Peter Maurer met with Maduro on Tuesday night as he wraps up a five-day visit to Venezuela, where the Geneva-based group is among international organisations trying to carve out a space to deliver badly needed humanitarian aid and technical assistance free of the winner-take-all politics contributing to the country’s turmoil.

UN urged to declare Venezuela a humanitarian emergency

Human Rights Watch and public health researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine are urging the United Nations to declare the situation in Venezuela “a complex humanitarian emergency that poses a serious risk to the region”.

They appealed to the Security Council ahead of its meeting on Wednesday on Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis to ask Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to make a declaration because their research shows severe medicine and food shortages in Venezuela, and disease spreading across its borders.

Maduro says Venezuela ready to receive international aid

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said his country was ready to receive international aid following a meeting with the Red Cross chief, as the Latin American nation plunged into a new round of blackouts.

“We confirm our readiness to establish cooperation mechanisms for international assistance and support,” Maduro said on Twitter on Tuesday.

Read more here.

Tuesday, April 9

OAS recognises Guaido appointee as Venezuela representative

The Organization of American States’ Permanent Council on Tuesday recognised Gustavo Tarre as representative of Venezuela until new elections are held in the South American country.

Tarre was appointed by opposition leader Juan Guaido, who in January declared himself Venezuela’s interim president and has vowed to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

The Council decided to “accept the appointment of Mr Gustavo Tarre as the National Assembly’s designated representative, pending new elections and the appointment of a democratically elected government” according to the resolution adopted by 18 votes in favour, nine against and six abstentions.

El Salvador president-elect to snub Ortega, Maduro

Incoming El Salvador president Nayib Bukele will not invite regional counterparts Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Honduras’ Juan Orlando Hernandez to his June 1 inauguration, a top aide said on Tuesday.

“They’re not going to be invited. El Salvador, in the next government, will be part of a group of democratic countries that believe in elections, in states where the people have to elect their governments in a democratic way,” said Federico Anliker, secretary general of Bukele’s New Ideas party.

UN refugee chief urges open doors for Venezuelans

The UN refugee chief is appealing to Latin American countries to “keep the doors open and diminish the restrictions imposed on Venezuelans” seeking refuge.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the Security Council on Tuesday that 3.5 million Venezuelans have left the country and about 15 countries have received them – primarily Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil.

He urged increased support for those countries, saying, “our appeal for the humanitarian crisis in that region is one of the most poorly funded globally”.

Venezuela removes 8 tonnes of gold from central bank: Sources

Venezuela removed eight tonnes of gold from the central bank’s vaults last week, and the cash-strapped socialist state is expected to sell the bullion abroad as it seeks to raise hard currency in the face of US sanctions, a politician and one government source told Reuters news agency.

With sanctions imposed by Washington choking off revenues from exports by state oil company PDVSA, President Nicolas Maduro’s increasingly isolated administration has turned to sales of Venezuela’s substantial gold reserves as one of the only sources of foreign currency.

The government source said the Central Bank’s reserves had fallen by 30 tonnes since the start of the year before US President Donald Trump tightened sanctions, leaving the bank with around 100 tonnes in its vaults, worth more than $4bn.

Monday, April 8

Pompeo to visit Venezuela border on South America tour

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to the Venezuela border in Colombia to highlight the plight of refugees during a four-nation trip to Latin America, the State Department announced on Monday.

Pompeo will pay a brief visit on Sunday to the Colombian city of Cucuta after stops in Chile, Paraguay and Peru – all four countries led by right-wing or center-right leaders favourable to the tough US approach on Venezuela.

In Cucuta, Pompeo will “visit entities supporting Venezuelan refugees and assess the challenges due to the closed border,” the State Department said in a statement.

Iranian delegation travels to Venezuela to discuss direct flight route

An Iranian delegation landed in Venezuela on Monday to discuss launching direct flights between the two countries, Venezuela’s foreign minister said, as Tehran voices support for President Nicolas Maduro against the opposition backed by most Western countries.

A plane belonging to Mahan Air, a private Iranian airline accused by the West of transporting military equipment to Middle East war zones, landed in Caracas on Monday, as the two countries planned on discussing launching a direct flight “in the coming months”, Minister Jorge Arreaza told reporters.

A White House official said the US government viewed the launch of direct flights as a “politically motivated gesture”.

The nonstop Tehran-Caracas flight would take 16 hours.

Venezuela pledges to honor oil commitments to Cuba despite sanctions

Venezuela will “fulfill its commitments” to Cuba despite US sanctions targeting oil shipments from the South American country to its ideological ally, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Monday.

Washington on Friday imposed sanctions on 34 vessels owned or operated by state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela as well as on two companies and a vessel that have previously delivered oil to Cuba, aiming to choke off a crucial supply of crude to the Communist-run island.

Venezuela has long sent subsidised crude to Cuba. The US describes the arrangement as an “oil-for-repression” scheme in which Havana helps socialist President Nicolas Maduro weather an economic crisis and power struggle with the opposition in exchange for fuel.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro says working with US to sow ‘dissent’ in Venezuela army

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he is working with the US government to sow dissent within the Venezuelan Army.

Bolsonaro, during an interview with Jovem Pan radio, said that if there is a military invasion in Venezuela, he would seek the counsel of Brazil’s National Defense Council and Congress on what, if any, action his country should take.

“We cannot allow Venezuela to become a new Cuba or North Korea,” the right-wing president said.

Bolsonaro said that if any military intervention actually deposed Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, it is quite likely that the country would see guerrilla warfare waged by Maduro’s diehard backers and whomever took power.

Iranian carrier begins direct flights to Venezuela

Iran’s second largest airline has begun direct flights to Venezuela, as the two countries cultivate closer ties in the face of US sanctions.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency says Mahan airline’s first flight to Venezuela left Tehran on Monday carrying a Foreign Ministry delegation.

The United States blacklisted Mahan in 2011 after accusing it of providing support to the Quds Force, an elite unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Saturday, April 6

‘Stop the attacks’ Maduro urges opponents

Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday a new electrical system would be “consolidated within 30 days” and called for international support for a national dialogue with the opposition.

Speaking to a massive crowd of supporters in Caracas, Maduro said the government was moving at a good pace to “consolidate the stability of a new electrical system for service for the people”.

Maduro also made a new call for dialogue towards reaching peace in Venezuela with help from the fellow Latin American countries, including Mexico and Uruguay.

Venezuelans take to the streets as power struggle persists

Supporters and opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are once again poured into the streets of Caracas, the latest rival rallies to be held in the capital amid a protracted political crisis and rising anger over blackouts that have left millions without electricity and water.

Juan Guaido, the self-proclaimed interim president and leader of the National Assembly, has asked his supporters not to get used to living in “darkness” while blaming high-level corruption and mismanagement under Maduro for the electricity outages.

Guaido has also held the government responsible for an exodus of people from the oil-rich country.

Read more.

Friday, April 5

US adds two companies, 34 vessels to Venezuela sanctions list

The United States has added two oil-sector companies and 34 vessels to a sanctions list aimed at forcing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down.

A Treasury Department announcement said the companies and vessels are being used to ship fuel to Cuba or in other aspects of the oil industry and help support the Maduro government.

The US imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry in January to cut off the government’s most important source of revenue.

Swiss sign agreement to protect US interests in Venezuela 

Switzerland and the United States signed an agreement on Friday for the neutral country to represent US interests in Venezuela, which broke off diplomatic relations with Washington after it recognised the opposition leader as president.

The mandate, signed by Switzerland’s foreign minister and the US ambassador to Switzerland in Berne, should help defuse tensions between the US and Venezuela, the Swiss government said, but first Venezuela must agree to let Switzerland take on the role.

Switzerland currently represents US interests in Iran and previously also represented its interests in Cuba.

US renews call on Russian personnel to leave Venezuela

The Trump administration is renewing calls for Moscow to withdraw its military personnel from Venezuela, where they are helping prop up embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday that he’s seen no signs the Russian personnel were leaving and that Moscow’s involvement might “get worse before it gets better”.

The Kremlin has rejected US calls for Moscow to withdraw, saying US troops are in many parts of the world and no one is telling the US where it should or shouldn’t be.

Thursday, April 4

Venezuelans struggle to find water in the aftermath of blackouts

Weeks of power cuts in Venezuela have further crippled an already fragile infrastructure, creating widespread water shortages hampering basic services.

Power has been restored in many areas but it is being rationed, and without electricity to run pumps there is not enough water in many areas. 

Click here to read more.

Venezuela FM says seeking to avoid Syria-style conflict

Venezuela’s top diplomat said on Thursday his government was seeking to avoid a Syria-style civil war during a visit to long-time ally Damascus.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza accused the United States of fuelling the conflict, but said his government would rely on diplomacy to avoid a full-blown war.

“When President Assad described the stages before and the stages during the early days of the war on Syria, similarities with what we are experiencing in Venezuela were immediately noticeable,” he said during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart.

We have “the same enemy with the same interests”, he said, referring to the US. “With the help of our friends, we have to avoid war, to stop the war,” he added.

Venezuelan deputy minister says more Russian troops could arrive

Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said on Thursday he does not rule out that more Russian military personnel may arrive in Venezuela under agreements already concluded with Russia, Interfax news agency reported.

The deputy minister also said Russian forces will stay in Venezuela as long as needed, and that there is no set period for their stay.

“The group of military specialists is [in Venezuela] in the context of our agreements and contracts for military-technical cooperation,” Interfax quoted Gil as saying.

EU condemns Venezuelan efforts to prosecute Guaido

European Union governments condemned on Thursday a measure by Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly that allows for the trial of opposition leader Juan Guaido.

“The EU rejects the decision taken by the non-recognised National Constituent Assembly to lift Juan Guaido’s parliamentary immunity. This decision constitutes a serious violation of the Venezuelan constitution, as well as of the rule of law and separation of power,” the EU said in a statement.

“These acts undermine a political way out of the crisis and only lead to further polarisation and escalation of tensions in the country,” the statement said.

Wednesday, April 3

Venezuela classes restart after weeks of blackouts

Classes resumed in Venezuela’s schools on Wednesday after two major national blackouts forced the education ministry to extend the school year.

Two major nationwide power outages led the government to cancel classes across the country.

Education Minister Aristobulo Isturiz said classes, which usually end at the beginning of July, would continue until the end of that month, state-run news agency AVN reported.

Colombia President warns of action if Guaido arrested

Colombia’s President Ivan Duque said on Wednesday that if Venezuela’s opposition leader, Juan Guaido, was arrested by the Venezuelan government it would be a serious mistake.

Speaking at an event for business leaders in Bogota, Duque stated that it would be “a serious break of order”.

“We consider his detention by the dictatorship and the criminal persecution warrants a clear rejection and very firm multilateral action to re-establish order in Venezuela,” he said.

Loyalists of President Nicolas Maduro stripped Guaido of immunity on Tuesday, paving the way for the opposition leader’s prosecution and potential arrest for supposedly violating the constitution when he declared himself interim president.

US senators propose more aid, international sanctions for Venezuela

Keeping up pressure for political change in Venezuela, a bipartisan group of 15 US senators introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to provide $400m in new aid, internationalise sanctions and ease penalties on officials who recognise a new government.

The Venezuelan Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance and Development (VERDAD) Act would provide $200m in new aid for Venezuela and $200m for neighbouring countries taking in refugees.

It would also revoke US visas for relatives of sanctioned Venezuelans, remove sanctions on officials not involved in human rights abuses if they recognise self-declared interim president Juan Guaido, and require work with Latin American and European governments to implement their own sanctions.

US working on rescue, restructuring plan for Venezuela

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Wednesday said the United States has plans to rapidly revitalise the Venezuelan economy, including financial and food planning as well as getting cash to people in the country.

The rescue and restructuring plan for Venezuela would involve getting dollars into the country, and the US is working with banks in the region to help, Kudlow told reporters at an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor news outlet.

Venezuelan FM visits anti-US allies in Middle East

Venezuela’s foreign minister, meeting with anti-US allies in the Middle East, said on Wednesday that opposition leader Juan Guaido is in breach of the constitution and that the judiciary has to “take care” of it.

Jorge Arreaza met Lebanon’s president and foreign minister in Beirut. He is expected to meet an official from the Hezbollah group before travelling onward to Syria.

Maduro’s government has warm relations with Syria and its allies in Lebanon.

Tuesday, April 2

Venezuela’s Guaido recognises risk of arrest

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has said he knows he runs the risk of being arrested for pushing to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

But a defiant Guaido said on Tuesday that he is undeterred.

The 35-year-old opposition leader spoke publicly moments after an assembly loyal to Maduro stripped him of his immunity from prosecution.

“That the regime intends to kidnap us? Well, of course. We know that all they have left is brute force, we know that. But we have audacity, intelligence, soul, strength, heart, hope, trust in this country, in ourselves,” he said.

Guaido stripped of immunity

Venezuelan politicians have stripped Juan Guaido of immunity, paving way for the opposition leader’s prosecution and potential arrest for supposedly violating the constitution when he declared himself interim president.

“[Guaido’s prosecution] is officially authorised,” Diosdado Cabello, head of the Maduro-loyal Constituent Assembly said following an assembly vote on Tuesday.

Pence calls for release of Americans held in Venezuela

Vice President Mike Pence called on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to immediately release six American oil executives who have been jailed for more than a year without trial, but he acknowledged that their freedom will be slow to come as long as Maduro remains in power.

“The United States today calls for the immediate release of these six individuals,” Pence said at a White House meeting with relatives of those who have been held for nearly 18 months while the Venezuelan government has postponed multiple court hearings in the case.

Pence said the five US citizens and one legal permanent US resident, all with roots in Texas and Louisiana, are being “illegally detained”.

The men, all employees of Houston-based Citgo, a longtime US subsidiary of the Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA, were summoned to Caracas in November 2017 for a last-minute budget meeting but were arrested and charged with embezzlement stemming from a never-executed proposal to refinance some $4bn in Citgo bonds. 

Venezuelans break police blockade along border with Colombia 

Authorities in Colombia are warning of potential unrest at a border crossing with Venezuela after droves of migrants broke through a blockade erected amid mounting hostilities between the two countries.

President Nicolas Maduro in February closed Venezuela’s border with Colombia in a bid to stop a US-backed plan to deliver humanitarian aid.

Since then, the thousands of migrants who cross daily into Colombia looking for food and medicine have relied on sometimes dangerous dirt paths between both countries.

But the Tachira River separating both countries swelled on Tuesday after heavy rainfall. That led the migrants to break a Venezuelan police blockade at the Simon Bolivar bridge and climb atop shipping containers placed there by Maduro to block the delivery of aid.

Colombia rejects Russia warning against Venezuelan military action

Colombia on Tuesday rejected a Russian warning against foreign military intervention in Venezuela and said it supported a peaceful transition to democracy in the neighbouring South American country.

“Colombia reiterates that the transition to democracy must be conducted by the Venezuelans themselves peacefully and within the framework of the Constitution and international law, supported by political and diplomatic means, without the use of force,” Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a statement.

He was responding to a March 28 letter from the upper house of Russia’s parliament, forwarded to Colombia’s Congress by Russian Ambassador Sergei Koshkin, that said the “illegitimate use of military force against Venezuela by other states that support the opposition will be interpreted … as an act of aggression against a sovereign state”.

Colombia, which supports opposition leader Juan Guaido, has repeatedly denied it has any intention of launching a military offensive across its border with Venezuela.

US says it will stand firm on sanctions of Venezuelan oil firm PDVSA

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday the United States would continue to bring pressure on Venezuela’s oil industry and would stand firm on sanctions against the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

Pence, in a meeting with families of American Citgo executives arrested in Venezuela, said oil prices had been quite low and competitive recently.

Monday, April 1

Venezuela’s Maduro replaces electricity minister amid nationwide blackouts

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday said he had replaced electricity minister Luis Motta amid a series of nationwide blackouts that have led to protests from citizens demanding restoration of power and water services.

Motta will be replaced with electrical engineer Igor Gaviria, Maduro said in a state television address.

Russia says it has opened helicopter training centre in Venezuela

Russia has opened a training centre in Venezuela to help the country’s pilots fly Russian-made military helicopters, Russian state-owned industrial conglomerate Rostec said on Monday, Moscow’s latest gesture of support for President Nicolas Maduro.

Rostec said the centre was inaugurated on Thursday last week, the same day as the White House warned Moscow and other countries backing Maduro against sending troops and military equipment, saying the United States would view such actions as a “direct threat” to the region’s security.

Rostec said the new training facility, the location of which it did not disclose, had been set up with the help of Russian specialists and was designed to train Venezuelan pilots to fly Russian-made Mi-35M helicopter gunships as well as Russian-made military transport helicopters.

Venezuela judge seeks to strip Guaido’s immunity

Venezuela’s chief justice is asking pro-government legislators to strip opposition leader Juan Guaido of immunity from prosecution.

The request by Supreme Court Justice Maikel Moreno on Monday takes a further step towards prosecuting Guaido for alleged crimes.

Moreno asked the pro-Maduro National Constituent Assembly to waive immunity Guaido holds as a member of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

Officials loyal to Maduro have already said that Guaido is under investigation for inciting violence against the government and receiving illicit funds. 

Venezuela’s intimidation tactics include arbitrary arrests, deportation: CPJ

Amid Venezuela’s deepening political and economic crisis, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) say that the authoritarian government of President Nicolás Maduro is arresting more journalists.

Some 39 journalists have been arrested so far this year, according to Carcas-based Institute for Press and Society (IPYS) – an increase from 22 detentions recorder in 2018.

The government “is trying to intimidate and demobilize journalists”, IPYS analyst Mariengracia Chirinos told CPJ. “Reporting in Venezuela has become a much riskier activity.”

In some cases, the journalists had been reporting on sensitive subjects. But other journalists and camera operators have been arrested for seemingly more innocuous actions, such as filming anti-government graffiti or reporting near the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.

Some Venezuelan migrants say they fear expulsion from socialist Bolivia

Dozens of Venezuelans who fled to Bolivia over recent months to escape economic and political unrest at home said they fear being deported from one of the few countries in the region that still supports the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Police last month arrested more than a dozen Venezuelans identified as having led anti-Maduro protests in front of the Cuban embassy in the Bolivian capital La Paz. Bolivia’s leftist President Evo Morales is an ally of both Havana and Maduro.

The protesters had demanded the end of what they called interference in Venezuelan affairs by Cuba, the Communist-party-led Caribbean nation that they blame for stoking Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

Venezuela’s Guaido pledges more protests over power, water shortages

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Monday called on supporters to continue taking to the streets in protest of power and water shortages, as the government of President Nicolas Maduro appeared prepared to begin a rationing programme.

Scattered protests continued throughout several working-class neighbourhoods of the capital Caracas on Monday, with small groups of people blocking roads demanding water be returned after a week of intermittent blackouts that have left many areas without electricity.

That followed demonstrations around Caracas on Monday night when police fired gunshots after residents set up burning barricades, according to Reuters witnesses. The oil-rich South American country has been hit by two waves of crippling blackouts since March 7.

Venezuelans struggle to understand power rationing plan

Venezuelans are struggling to understand an announcement that the nation’s electricity is being rationed to combat daily blackouts.

Office worker Raquel Mayorca said on Monday she didn’t know if her lights were off because of another power failure or whether it was part of the government’s plans. She said the power was out on one side of the street, but working on the other.

President Nicolas Maduro said a day earlier that he was instituting a 30-day plan to ration electricity but provided no details. He called on Venezuelans to be calm.

Turkey pledges continued support to Venezuela’s Maduro

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey is giving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro its continued support and intends to deepen cooperation with Venezuela “in all fields” despite US pressure.

Cavusoglu spoke on Monday during a joint news conference in Turkey with Venezuela’s foreign affairs minister, Jorge Arreaza.

Turkey has become one of Maduro’s biggest backers, along with Russia, China and Cuba. The United States and dozens of nations in Latin America and Europe are supporting Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The two foreign ministers criticized US sanctions on Venezuela that have also targeted the country’s gold trade.

Venezuelans plan protests over power and water as rationing looms

Venezuelans on Monday prepared to hold protests over continued shortages of power and water following angry demonstrations as the government of President Nicolas Maduro appeared prepared to begin a rationing program.

Police fired gunshots in parts of Caracas on Sunday night, according to Reuters witnesses, after residents set up burning barricades to demand a return of electricity and running water.

“We’ll see each other in the streets tomorrow,” opposition leader Juan Guaido, who invoked the country’s constitution to assume an interim presidency in January after arguing Maduro’s May 2018 re-election was illegitimate, tweeted on Sunday night. “We will not hide from the dictator.”

Sunday, March 31

Venezuela’s Maduro announces power rationing amid blackouts

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration electricity after nationwide power cuts that have inflicted misery on millions of people and ignited protests, including one near the presidential palace in Caracas.

The rationing plan will help deal with the outages that have also cut off the water supply and communications for days at a time, Maduro said on Sunday in a speech on national television in which he also warned against any unrest in reaction to the blackouts.

Maduro blamed the blackout on a “terrorist attack against the electricity system” by Washington and the “putschist opposition”.

The opposition has attributed the power outages to a lack of investment in the national grid, poor upkeep and a failure to tackle repairs.

Venezuelans set up burning barricades over lack of power, water

Venezuelans set up burning barricades near the presidential palace in Caracas and in other parts of the country on Sunday in protests over constant power outages and shortages of drinking water in the wake of two major blackouts this month.

The situation has fueled frustration with the government of President Nicolas Maduro and frayed nerves as schools and much of the nation’s commerce have been interrupted by problems with public services for nearly three weeks.

Protesters, some carrying rocks and their faces covered, burned tires and tree trunks along a stretch of downtown Caracas as they demanded Maduro improve the situation.

Demonstrators reported that one woman had been injured by gunfire, which they attributed to pro-government gangs. Reuters was unable to confirm who fired the shots.

Saturday, March 30

Anti-government protests met with tear gas

Venezuelan security forces have fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who turned out in Caracas to protest against massive power outages that have kept much of the country in darkness since early March. 

“Small groups [of protesters] were trying, as they have done in the past, to block some roads in the capital. They have been confronted by police and dispersed with tear gas,” Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, the capital of neighbouring Colombia, said. 

At least eight anti-government demonstrations were scheduled for Saturday in Caracas. It is not clear how many of these have been broken up by the country’s security forces. 

The security forces’ action comes as Maduro and Guaido’s supporters are holding rival rallies throughout Venezuela.

The pro-government demonstrators are protesting against what they see as an imperialist threat to the country, while Guaido is urging his supporters to continue putting pressure on the government by taking to the streets every time there is a power outage. 

Russia dismisses speculation about military personnel in Venezuela

Russia has dismissed US worries about the presence of Russian “specialists” in Venezuela, calling the concerns “absolutely groundless”. 

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday that Russia had clearly stated the purpose of the specialists it had sent to Venezuela under a military cooperation deal and that they did not pose a threat to regional stability. 

“The Russian side clearly stated the purpose of the arrival of its specialists to Caracas. This is not about any ‘military contigents’,” Zakharova said in a statement. 

“Thus, the speculations about the conduct of certain ‘military operations’ by Russia in Venezuela are absolutely groundless.”

The statement comes a day after the US warned Russia and others against sending troops to Venezuela. 

Rival rallies held as power struggle continues

Supporters of Guaido and Maduro, held rival demonstrations on Saturday.

Maduro loyalists gathered in the capital, Caracas, for what was billed as an “anti-imperialist” rally. With Maduro writing on Twitter that the Venezuelan people had mobilised to “say ‘NO’ to imperial terrorism”. 

TRANSLATION: Tomorrow we will receive a visit from our dear friend, President Juan Guaido in the Lopez Palace.

Wednesday, February 27

US seeks UN vote on Venezuela for Thursday: diplomats

The United States is seeking a vote Thursday at the UN Security Council on a draft resolution calling for “free, fair and credible” elections in Venezuela and free access for humanitarian aid, diplomats said.

Russia, an ally of President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, is likely to use its veto power to oppose the text, which also expresses “deep concern with the violence and excessive use of force by Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters.”

Guaido to meet Bolsonaro 

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido is due to meet Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia late Wednesday, sources from both camps said.

Guaido will travel to the Brazilian capital from Colombia, where he has stayed since Friday despite a travel ban imposed on him by the regime of Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Brazil and Colombia are Guaido allies that have been holding humanitarian aid the National Assembly speaker wants to bring into Venezuela.

Maduro, Trump should meet to ‘find common ground’: Venezuela FM

Venezuela’s foreign minister said that the United States was trying to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro and that his country had lost $30bn in assets “confiscated” since November 2017 under sanctions.

Jorge Arreaza, addressing the UN Human Rights Council despite a walk-out by dozens of Western envoys, suggested that Maduro and US President Donald Trump meet to “try to find common ground and explain their differences”.

“We’re calling for dialogue, dialogue with the United States – why not between Presidents Maduro and Trump? Why shouldn’t they meet so that they could try to find common ground and explain their differences?”

Read more here.

Tuesday, February 26

US ‘to impose more sanctions’ on Venezuela this week and next week

US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said on Tuesday that Washington would impose more sanctions on Caracas this week and next week to bring about additional pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro, whose legitimacy Washington has challenged.

Speaking ahead of a Security Council meeting on Venezuela sought by the United States, Abrams said he hoped the UN Security Council will vote this week on a resolution calling for Venezuela to allow the entry of humanitarian assistance into the country.

Abrams denied Russian accusations that the US is preparing for military intervention in Venezuela, but repeated that all options are on the table.

Peru cancelling visas of Venezuelan diplomats at Lima embassy: official

Peru is cancelling the visas of diplomats at the Venezuelan embassy in Lima, and will notify them that they will be in the country illegally starting from March 9, a Peruvian official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela said in a broadcast interview with radio station RPP that Peru recognises Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido’s designated ambassador to Peru and will no longer acknowledge embassy officials appointed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela opposition’s US envoy asks Trump to increase pressure on Maduro

Carlos Vecchio, the Venezuelan opposition’s envoy to the United States, met US President Donald Trump recently and asked him to increase pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro, Vecchio’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mexico president refuses to choose sides in Venezuela conflict

Mexico’s president, asked about recognising Venezuela’s Guaido, urged all parties to seek a peaceful situation to the conflict via dialogue.

Asked about the detention of journalists in Venezuela on Monday, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he did not want to involve himself in a polarised situation and remained committed to a policy of non-intervention in the affairs of other governments.

Russian official accuses US of preparing military intervention in Venezuela

Russia believes the United States is preparing a military intervention in Venezuela, the RIA news agency cited the secretary of Russia’s Security Council as saying on Tuesday.

Nikolai Patrushev was also cited by the Interfax news agency as saying Russia had agreed to a proposal from Washington to hold consultations on Venezuela, a close ally of Moscow, but the United States had repeatedly postponed them on invented pretexts.

Monday, February 25

Brazil wants non-military pressure on Venezuela 

Brazil’s vice president, retired general Hamilton Mourao, said on Monday that under no circumstances would his country allow the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela from Brazilian territory.

In an interview with Globo News cable channel, Mourao said Brazil will do all it can to avoid a conflict with neighbouring Venezuela.

He spoke from Bogota, where he attended a meeting of the Lima Group, a bloc of nations from Argentina to Canada dedicated to peaceful resolution of the Venezuelan crisis.

Pence on Venezuela: ‘all options are on the table’

Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the US position on Venezuela on Monday, insisting that a military intervention to force President Nicolas Maduro from power has not been ruled out.

“We hope for a peaceful transition to democracy. But President Trump has made it clear: all options are on the table,” Pence said after meeting with Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido at a Lima Group gathering in Colombia.

US asks UNSC to meet on Venezuela: diplomats

The United States has asked the United Nations Security Council to meet to discuss the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday, said diplomats after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s troops repelled foreign aid convoys at the weekend.

The United States has been pushing the 15-member council to formally call for free, fair and credible presidential elections in Venezuela with international observers, a move that prompted Russia to propose a rival draft resolution. It was unclear if or when either draft text could be put to a vote.

Moscow and Washington have been at loggerheads over a US-led campaign for international recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader and head of the country’s elected National Assembly Juan Guaido over Maduro. Guaido last month declared himself interim head of state.

US sending aid for Venezuela migrant crisis

Vice President Mike Pence says the United States is sending another $56m to neighbours of Venezuela to help them cope with migrants fleeing that nation’s deepening crisis.

Pence said Monday that the United States has already provided more than $139m in aid to help Venezuela.

He spoke in Colombia’s capital at a meeting of The Lima Group, a coalition of mostly Latin American nations formed to address Venezuela’s turmoil.

Pence also met opposition congressional leader Juan Guaido, who has declared presidential powers, arguing that the reelection of socialist President Nicolas Maduro was invalid.

Pence said the US has sent five military transport planes with 400 tonnes of food and medicine to Colombia and Brazil.

Deadly clashes erupted over the weekend when Maduro refused to allow the aid cross, calling it part of a US-led coup.

Mike Pence: President Guaido, we are with you 

US Vice President Mike Pence told Juan Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela’s interim president, that the United States stands with him. 

“President Trump has asked me to convey a message to him, President Guaido: we are with you, and we will be until the freedom and democracy come back,” he said. 

“As of today, the United States will impose additional sanctions on the regime’s officials.”

Pence also asked Latin American nations to freeze Venezuela oil assets. 

“We call on all Lima Group nations to immediately freeze the assets of PDVSA,” he said.

“Secondly, transfer ownership of Venezuelan assets in your country from Maduro’s henchmen to President Guaido’s government,” and he also called on the countries to restrict visas for officials close to Maduro and to vote to recognise the representative of Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s self-declared interim president, at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Guaido: We are here to recover Venezuela’s democracy 

The opposition leader Juan Guaido is about to speak in a meeting of the Lima Group and has started requesting a “minute of silence for the massacre Venezuelans experienced on February 23,” according to local media reports. 

“This meeting is aimed at the recovery of democracy in Venezuela, and the respect for human rights. Today Maduro thinks that by blocking the humanitarian aid, he has gained a victory. They dance in Caracas, on top of indigenous tombs,” he added.

“The dilemma is between a dictatorship and democracy. Between massacres or saving lives.”

“Today the transition is being blocked by irregular armed groups,” Guaido explained, “without those weapons we would have a pacific transition.”

Colombia president wants to close circle around Maduro

Colombia’s President Ivan Duque called on members of the Lima Group meeting in Bogota on Monday to create a “more powerful and effective” ring around Venezuela’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Duque, who met with Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido and US Vice President Mike Pence, said added pressure would facilitate the “rapid construction of the transition demanded by the Venezuelan people.”

US ramps up pressure on Venezuela with fresh sanctions

The US has imposed sanctions on four Venezuelans as it ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, whose election Washington sees as illegitimate.

The action, which was announced in a post on the US Treasury’s website, coincides with US Vice President Mike Pence attending a meeting of the regional Lima Group of nations in Bogota, where he was expected to announce steps against Maduro’s government.

Pence: Aid delivery violence steeled US resolve to back Guaido

Violence during the attempted delivery of much-needed food and medicine to Venezuela over the weekend has steeled the United States’s resolve to support opposition leader Juan Guaido, US Vice-President Mike Pence said on Monday.

The US will keep standing with Guaido until freedom is restored is the South American nation, Pence said at a meeting of the regional Lima Group bloc.

Speaking to a cheering crowd mostly of Venezuelan and Cuban immigrants, Trump said if the Venezuelan military continues supporting Maduro, “you will find no safe harbour, no easy exit and no way out. You’ll lose everything.”

He said he wanted a peaceful transition of power in Venezuela but that all options remained open.

“I ask every member of the Maduro regime: End this nightmare of poverty, hunger and death. LET YOUR PEOPLE GO. Set your country free! Now is the time for all Venezuelan Patriots to act together, as one united people. Nothing could be better for the future of Venezuela!” he tweeted on Monday.

“Not only will this be happening at the border where the volunteer movement will be, but in cities up and down the country where there will be demonstrations on February 23 for the aid to come in,” Guaido told thousands of supporters at a public gathering.

Translation: “Every day we are closer to February 23rd, the day the #Humanitarian Assistance will enter the country. The whole country calls on the military forces to take the side of the people, to let the #Humanitarian Assistance pass because this is also for them, for their families.”

Protesters welcome aid convoy’s arrival at Colombia border

Demonstrators at the Colombian-Venuzelan border welcomed an aid convoy carrying food and medicine from the US by blowing horns and chanting slogans calling for a change in crisis-hit Venezuela.

Venezuela has rejected the aid delivery, which was organised by the US and Venezuelan opposition leaders, barricading its own side of the border and vowing not to allow entry.

At Tienditas bridge, Luigi Rivas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan migrant, brandished a cardboard sign reading “humanitarian aid now”.

“It is a cowardly action he’s made,” Rivas told Al Jazeera, referring to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s bridge closure.

Read more here.

US imposing travel ban on some Maduro allies: US envoy

The Trump administration is imposing a ban on travel to the US for members of Venezuela’s constituent assembly, a body controlled by President Nicolas Maduro and denounced by the opposition as illegitimate, a senior US official said on Thursday.

Elliott Abrams, Washington’s special envoy on Venezuela, said the time for dialogue with Maduro “has long passed”, except to negotiate his departure, and reinforced US backing for opposition leader Juan Guaido, who swore himself in as interim president last month and earned recognition from the US and a number of other countries.

Trucks carrying aid arrives in Colombian border city

The first trucks carrying humanitarian aid meant to cross the border into Venezuela arrived in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Thursday, where officials were to await instructions on how to distribute the food and medicine.

Escorted by police motorcycles, the trucks pulled into the northern city, where desperate Venezuelans were waiting to see whether President Nicolas Maduro’s government would clear the border road he has blocked and allow the humanitarian shipments to pass.

Wednesday, February 6

Guaido appeals to Italy’s leaders

Opposition leader Guaido asks Italy’s ruling coalition to meet with representatives as he seeks their explicit backing as interim president.

Far-right Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has criticised Maduro as “a criminal” and “an outlaw”. 

But prominent members of coalition partner Five Star Movement, such as Alessandro Di Battista, have expressed hesitancy over recognising Guaido. 

Maduro gov’t ‘unable’ to move money in EU:

Maduro’s administration has also not been able to move money between its accounts in banks in the European Union since Monday, opposition legislator Carlos Paparoni said.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request to comment, reported Reuters.

Tuesday, February 5:

US sends aid to Colombia; Maduro rejects help

The US has sent food and medicine to Colombia’s border with Venezuela, US officials said on Tuesday. It is still unclear, however, how the aid will get past the objections of President Nicolas Maduro, who has blocked shipments in the past.

Two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the aid will be staged at the main Colombian-Venezuelan border crossing at Cucuta. One official said more supplies would be staged in Brazil and in the Caribbean.

“I anticipate having perhaps a dozen locations all around Venezuela where such aid will be staged,” the official said.

The US officials said trucks carrying the aid, including high-protein foods, would arrive in Cucuta this week at the request of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who last month declared himself to be the South American nation’s interim president.

Mexico FM says ‘not defending’ Maduro

Mexico’s government said it is not defending Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro after European nations, the US and others recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American country’s legitimate head of state.

“We don’t defend Maduro or his regime, nor are we taking a political position, we want there to be dialogue,” Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in an interview with local television. “We’re not taking sides, everyone can have their point of view.”

Major European countries on Monday joined most members of the Lima Group, including Argentina, Brazil and Canada, supporting Guaido as interim Venezuelan leader and calling for free elections.

Monday, February 4

UN won’t be part of any initiative dealing with Venezuela crisis 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he has been in contact with supporters of the rival initiatives to deal with the Venezuela crisis and has decided the United Nations won’t be part of any of them.

He told reporters on Monday that he took the decision “in order to give credibility to our continued offer of good offices to the parties to be able at their request to help find a political solution”. 

Guterres said he has been following the evolution of the situation in Venezuela with “a lot of concern”.

The presidents of Mexico and Uruguay have offered to negotiate between socialist President Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido. But Guaido rejected the offer.

Lima group reaffirms support for Guaido 

A coalition of Western Hemisphere nations is urging Venezuela’s military to allow badly needed food and medicine to enter the country as the bloc pushes for a peaceful transition of power in the South American nation.

The call came Monday from the Lima Group, made up of nearly a dozen conservative Latin American countries and Canada. It has led the push to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader and seeks ways to remove President Maduro.

The coalition met on Monday in Ottawa, Canada and issued a declaration saying Venezuela’s soldiers must show loyalty to Guaido. The group also said the United Nations and the international community should be ready to step in with humanitarian assistance for Venezuela.

Further, the bloc dismissed the idea of opening negotiations with Maduro, who has used past talks as a stalling tactic.

Guaido calls for aid conference on Venezuela

Guaido says the opposition will hold an international conference to seek emergency humanitarian assistance at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, DC. 

Carlos Vecchio was recently designated as ambassador to Washington by Guaido. 

Dozens of countries have now recognized Guaido as interim president, but many others back Maduro, who holds practical power in the country.

Maduro rejects European demands, US aid

President Nicolas Maduro is again rejecting moves by at least eight European nations recognising opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

Germany, the UK and France are among the nations that announced support for Guaido on Monday. The EU nations say Maduro’s election was fraudulent and that he ignored their deadline to announce a new round of democratic presidential elections.

Maduro was especially harsh on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a fellow socialist. Maduro said Sanchez would have “blood on his hands” if a coup is carried out against him.

In a live address on state television, Maduro said he refuses ultimatums from any country and rejects a US-backed effort to send emergency food and medicine into his country, saying Venezuela isn’t a nation of beggars.

Guaido claims Maduro government trying to move funds to Uruguay

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Monday the government of President Nicolas Maduro was trying to move up to $1.2bn from state development bank Bandes to a financial entity in Uruguay, though he did not present evidence.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Guaido, in a televised speech, called on the Uruguayan government to not allow the operation, which he denounced as the “theft of public funds.”

EU leader pushes Italy for unity on Venezuela

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani is pressing Italy’s populist government to side with other EU countries on Venezuela.

He told reporters Monday in Rome that Italy’s coalition government should heed the words of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who earlier in the day urged Italy to adopt a shared position with EU partners and allies.

At least 12 EU countries have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president, rejected the legitimacy of socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Italy’s squabbling government coalition hasn’t joined them, calling instead for reconciliation and new and free elections in Venezuela.

Tajani slammed the Italian government position as “very grave” and urged it to follow Mattarella’s “very clear’ message for EU unity on Venezuela’s political crisis.

Canada announces $53m in aid to Venezuelans 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will give $53m in humanitarian aid for Venezuelans who he says are living under a “dictatorship willing to use force and fear” to maintain its power.

He says the money will go to “trusted partners in neighbouring countries to help them support Venezuela and Venezuelans”.

The announcement came during a meeting in Ottawa of the Lima Group that includes countries from the Americas that oppose socialist President Nicolas Maduro and recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate interim leader.

Two dozen foreign affairs ministers, ambassadors and other officials from the Americas and Europe were taking part.

Italy blocks EU statement on recognising Venezuela’s Guaido: report

Italy on Monday blocked a European Union statement saying that the bloc’s member states would recognise Venezuela’s National Assembly head Juan Guaido as interim president, diplomatic sources told Reuters news agency.

That came after days of sparring between the 28 EU states on how to address the situation in Venezuela. Eight EU countries on Monday recognised Guaido, but Italy’s opposition has prevented a unified EU stance.

UK looking at Venezuela sanctions, says Maduro must go

Britain is looking at options including sanctions to bring about peace and democracy in Venezuela, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Monday.

“Venezuelan people deserve a better future, they have suffered enough and the Maduro regime must end. It is time for free and fair elections,” the spokesman told reporters.

“We are looking at what further steps we can take to ensure peace and democracy in Venezuela including through sanctions.” 

Russia slams European ‘interference’ in Venezuela

Russia has criticised what it said were attempts to interfere in Venezuela’s domestic affairs after major European countries recognised Juan Guaido as the South American country’s interim leader.

“Attempts to legitimise usurped power” constituted “interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Such interference, he added, could not facilitate the “peaceful, effective and lasting settlement of the crisis the Venezuelans are going through”.

Peskov reiterated Moscow’s position that only the people of Venezuela could solve the crisis “which they should get through on their own”.

European nations back Guaido as Venezuela’s interim leader, call for elections

France, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark have joined Britain and Spain in recognising Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of the South American country.

The coordinated move from the major European nations came after the expiry of an eight-day deadline they set last weekend for President Nicolas Maduro to call a new presidential vote.

In a Twitter post on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country recognises Guaido as an “acting president to implement an electoral process”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a visit to Japan, said Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, “is the legitimate interim president”.

Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s chancellor, also tweeted that Guaido can rely on Austria’s “full support in his efforts to re-establish democracy in Venezuela”.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told Swedish radio that Stockholm supports and considers Guaido as “a legitimate and interim president” given Maduro’s refusal to hold a snap election.

“Denmark recognises the President of the National Assembly … until new free and democratic elections take place,” Anders Samuelsen, the country’s foreign minister, tweeted ahead of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.

Netherlands, Latvia and Lithuania also threw their support behind Guaido. 

Spain, UK recognise Guaido as acting president

Spain and the United Kingdom have recognised Juan Guaido as acting leader of Venezuela after President Nicolas Maduro rejected an ultimatum by European countries to call snap elections.

“The Spanish government announces that it officially recognises Venezuela’s National Assembly president, Mr Guaido Marquez, as acting president of Venezuela,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters on Monday, calling on Guaido to hold a new presidential election quickly.

Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s foreign secretary, said the UK backs Guaido as “interim constitutional president until credible elections can be held”.

In a Twitter post on Monday, Hunt said he hoped the move will help end Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

Spain, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria have said if Maduro does not call snap elections they will recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

The eight-day deadline ran out on Sunday.

France also responded to Maduro’s refusal to hold elections, with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian telling radio France Inter that Paris will “now take all necessary” measures.

He did not elaborate.

Sunday, February 3:

Canada’s Trudeau speaks with Guaido, praises ‘courage and leadership’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has held a phone conversation with Guaido, praising his “courage and leadership”, according to a statement.

The conversation a day before a meeting of the 14-nation Lima Group – made up of Canada and Latin American countries – in Ottawa. Eleven of its members, including Canada, have recognised Guaido.

“The two leaders discussed the importance of the international community sending a clear message regarding the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime and the need to respect the Venezuelan Constitution,” a readout of the call from Trudeau’s office said.

“Both underscored the importance that free and fair Presidential elections be held. The Prime Minister commended Juan Guaido for his courage and leadership in helping to return democracy to Venezuela and offered Canada’s continued support.”

Trudeau added that the Lima Group meeting “will consider how the international community can further support the people of Venezuela, including through immediate humanitarian assistance”.

Maduro rejects European ultimatum to call vote

In an interview with Spanish television station Sexta, Maduro has rejected a call by European countries to organise elections following Guaido’s move to declare himself as interim president.

Maduro said he would not “cave in to pressure” by those calling for his departure.

“They are trying to corner us with ultimatums to force us into an extreme situation of confrontation,” Maduro said.

Spain, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria have said if Maduro does not call snap elections they will recognise Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

Russia’s FM: Help Venezuela, but don’t meddle 

Russia’s foreign ministry said the international community should focus on helping to solve Venezuela’s economic and social problems and refrain from any “destructive” interference, Interfax news agency reported.

“The international community’s goal should be to help (Venezuela solve socio-economic problems), without destructive meddling from beyond its borders,” Alexander Shchetinin, head of the ministry’s Latin American department, was cited by Interfax as saying.

Trump: Sending military ‘an option’

President Donald Trump said that sending the military to Venezuela was “an option” and that he had turned down President Nicolas Maduro’s request for a meeting.

“Certainly it’s something that’s on the – it’s an option,” Trump said in an interview broadcast on Sunday on the CBS “Face the Nation” programme. “Well [Nicolas Maduro] has requested a meeting and I have turned it down because we’re very far along in the process.”

‘International contact group’ 

European and Latin American countries that form an “international contact group” hoping to end Venezuela’s political crisis will hold their first meeting in Montevideo on Thursday, the joint hosts announced Sunday.

The meeting will be at the ministerial level, said a statement from EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez.

“The IGC aims at contributing to create conditions for a political and peaceful process to emerge, enabling Venezuelans to determine their own future, through the holding of free, transparent and credible elections, in line with the country’s Constitution,” said the statement.

The contact group comprises the EU and eight of its member states – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom – and four Latin American countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Earlier on Saturday, General Yanez, high-ranking Venezuelan air force official, withdrew his support of Maduro, claiming that 90 percent of the military is no longer supporting the president.

Maduro defiant after military defections; proposes new parliamentary elections

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has remained defiant following the defections of at least two military officials while declaring his support for fresh parliamentary elections.

In a speech to tens of thousands of supporters on Saturday, Maduro declared that he supports the National Assembly’s proposal, saying, “Let’s go for elections”.

Elections for the opposition-controlled National Assembly are not supposed to take place again until 2020.

In the same speech, the president denounced the interventionist policy of the US and the administration of President Donald Trump.

“A wave of global consciousness is rising in the face of daily threats against the White House warmongers,” Maduro said.

Maduro and opposition leader, Juan Guaido are holding competing rallies in capital Caracas on Saturday, as they tried to rally support on their side.

Earlier on Saturday, a high-ranking Venezuelan air force official, General Francisco Yanez, withdrew his support of Maduro and recognised Guaido as interim head-of-state.

Later in the day, another military officer in active service, Lieutenant Colonel Andres Eloy Volcan, also declared his support of Guaido and urged other military officers to follow him and “restore democracy.

But Maduro dismissed the call saying, “The Bolivarian armed forces are more loyal than ever under my command.”

He insisted that he was the rightful president of Venezuela and that he would continue to govern.

Guaido: Humanitarian aid to enter through Colombia, Brazil

Guaido and Maduro are holding competing rallies in the capital, Caracas, on Saturday. [Adriana Loureiro/Reuters]

Opposition leader, Juan Guaido, who declared himself as the country’s president, has announced that humanitarian aid for Venezuela will enter through Colombia, Brazil and a Caribbean island.

Guaido made the statement on Saturday, as he addressed an anti-government rally in the capital, Caracas.

In his speech, he also urged the military to side with the Constitution and called on them not to target the demonstrators.

Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has declared himself interim president of Venezuela. [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]

Guaido also said that the month of February could prove to be the “determining point” of Venezuela’s freedom.

Reports say more than 100,000 Venezuelans attended Guaido’s rally.

Army colonel recognises Guaido as president

Another military officer has defected from the government of President Nicolas Maduro and recognised opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as president.

Andres Eloy Volcan, an active lieutenant colonel of the armed forces, urged his fellow military officers to follow him and “restore democracy.

Volcan made the statement during an appearance in Aragua, just outside of the capital, Caracas. A video of the statement was posted on social media.

Demonstrators in Caracas call on Maduro to step down

Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Caracas to renew their call for President Nicolas Maduro to resign. 

Luisa Blanco, 51, a resident of a Caracas suburb, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that she can “smell the hope” that Maduro would resign.

“Maduro needs to leave. We cannot go on with so much misery. We are going to die of hunger,” she said.

In Chacaito, one of the starting points of the demonstration in the Venezuela capital, Yurvis Urdaneta, 28, said he likes opposition leader Juan Guaido.

“He seems to be a nice young man. I think he wants to do it right. But we have also been wrong in the past, and we have been tricked before. So I don’t know wha is going to happen.”

There are also demonstrations in other parts of the country, including the major cities of Maracaibo and Barquisimeto.

Venezuelan general recognises opposition leader Guaido as president: Twitter video

A high-ranking Venezuelan air force general said he had disavowed President Nicolas Maduro and now recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim head-of-state, according to a video circulating on Twitter on Saturday.

In the video, General Francisco Yanez, a member of the air force’s high command, called on other members of the military to defect. He also reportedly claimed that 90 percent of the armed forces no longer support Maduro.

The high command’s web page lists Yanez, along with a photo, as the air force’s head of strategic planning.

On its Twitter account, the high command of the military accused the general of treason.

Yanez is the first active Venezuelan general to recognise Guaido since he proclaimed himself president on Jan. 23.

Al Jazeera’s Latin America editor Lucia Newman, reporting from Caracas, said the defection of the first active general is “another blow” to the Maduro administration.

“Juan Guaido has been publicly appealing to the armed forces to defect, to abandon Nicolas Maduro, whose main support comes from the military. Without it, he would have a difficult time to stay in power.”

But the question now is whether Yanez commands a number of troops, and orders members of the armed forces to follow him, our correspondent said.

Friday, February 1:

Pence calls for end of Maduro’s government

US Vice President Mike Pence, working to ramp up pressure for the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, told a rally on Friday that the time for dialogue had ended and all options were on the table to replace Maduro’s government.

“This is no time for dialogue. This is time for action,” Pence told a cheering crowd at a campaign-style rally. “The time has come to end the Maduro dictatorship once and for all.”

The US government has recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president and has called for other countries to do so as well.

Guaido rejects offers to mediate 

Opposition leader Juan Guaido says he is respectfully declining offers from the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay to negotiate with President Nicolas Maduro.

Guaido on Friday made public a letter that he is sending to both leaders. He urged them to be on the right side of history, saying that remaining neutral in the political struggle aligns them with Maduro.

Translation: We ratify to the governments of Mexico and Uruguay our position in restoring the constitutional order in Venezuela. We have a clear route.

Guaido says Maduro amnesty on the table

In his first comments since declaring himself interim president, Guaido said he would consider granting amnesty to Maduro and his allies if they helped Venezuela return to democracy.

The remarks are part of a soon-to-be-aired interview the opposition leader gave to Univision that was published on its website.

Guaido said that amnesty was on the table for anybody willing to help return Venezuela to constitutional order.

US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Venezuela

The US State Department ordered non-emergency government employees to leave Venezuela and said the US citizens should “strongly consider” leaving the country, the US Embassy in Caracas said.

Maduro orders diplomats out of US

President Maduro ordered all Venezuelan diplomats home from the US and is closing its embassy.

Maduro said that if US officials had any sense they would pull out their own diplomats from Caracas rather than defying his order to leave.

The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors in nearly a decade, but they have maintained diplomatic staff.

Death toll reaches 26: NGO

Twenty-six people have been killed since the latest wave of protests against Nicolas Maduro broke out four days ago, the Caracas-based Observatory of Social Conflict said on Thursday.

The previous toll from the protests – which began when a group of soldiers took over a command post in the north of the capital in defiance of the socialist regime – had stood at 16.

In some places, armed forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue protesters, some of whom threw stones.

Venezuelan embassy in Turkey calls for solidarity

The Venezuelan Embassy in Turkey on Thursday urged solitary from the people of Turkey. 

“We expect solidarity from the Turkish people,” the embassy said in a statement, Anadolu Agency reported.

“We strongly condemn the fascist attacks attempting to undermine the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s government,” the statement read.

Maduro accuses US of ‘leading major provocation’

“I had a phone call with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, with whom I spoke for about 20 minutes, President Putin always expressing his solidarity with Venezuela,” President Maduro said.

“The US is leading a major provocation against Venezuela,” he explained.

“I believe that in the world there is no doubt that it is Donald Trump himself who wishes to impose a defacto… government.. in Venezuela, against the people and against democracy.”

“Donald Trump with his insanity of thinking that he is the policeman of the world, believing that he is the one in charge of Latin American and the Caribbean, it’s a major provocation.”

“[But] I tell you, President Putin, just as I told people yesterday… everyone to work, everything will work, and the country continues to go forward, and the government continues to govern,” he added. 

Venezuela’s Supreme Court members applauded and pledged their unwavering support for President Maduro.

US requests UN Security Council meeting

The US has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, the US mission to the United Nations said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to attend the open meeting requested for Saturday, diplomats said.

US seeks to cut off revenues from Nicolas Maduro

The US is seeking to ensure that Venezuelan oil revenue goes to opposition leader Juan Guaido, and to cut off money from President Nicolas Maduro, national security advisor John Bolton said on Thursday.

The announcement signals that Washington is willing to go beyond traditional diplomatic measures and will seek to starve Maduro’s government of revenue as his administration is already struggling with unpaid bills and creditors demanding payment.

“What we’re focusing on today is disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the sources of his revenues,” Bolton told reporters at the White House.

But he said the process was “very complicated” and that officials were still studying how this would function.

Mike Pompeo promises aid to Venezuela

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to recognise National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

At a meeting in Washington, Pompeo said “the time for debate is done. The regime of former President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate.”

Pompeo also pledged $20m in humanitarian assistance to Venezuela and called on Venezuelan security forces to protect Guaido’s physical safety. 

.@SecPompeo at @OAS_official: Today I am announcing U.S. is ready to provide more than $20 million in humanitarian aid to the people of #Venezuela. The funds are to help them cope w/severe food & medicine shortages & other dire impacts of their country’s political & econ. crisis. pic.twitter.com/gXlzU7EkGs

Pope following situation in Venezuela 

The Vatican says Pope Francis is closely following developments in Venezuela and supports “all efforts that help save the population from further suffering”.

A statement from Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti on Thursday did not specify whether the Holy See recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the interim presidency.

Francis is nearby on a visit to Panama for World Youth Day. 

Venezuela defence minister says Maduro is ‘legitimate president’

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on Thursday that Nicolas Maduro was the country’s “legitimate president” and that the opposition was carrying out a coup after Juan Guaido, the leader of Congress, declared himself president.

Padrino said the US and other governments were carrying out an economic war against Venezuela, an OPEC nation with the world’s largest crude reserves.

UK says Guaido right person to take country forward

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president on Wednesday, is the right person to take the country forward, Britain’s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday.

“The United Kingdom believes Juan Guaido is the right person to take Venezuela forward. We are supporting the US, Canada, Brazil and Argentina to make that happen,” he told the media during a visit to Washington.

Hunt added that Britain did not regard Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader following elections on May 20 last year that Britain said had been “deeply flawed”. 

US asks to brief UN Security Council on Venezuela: envoy

US Secretary of State Pompeo has asked to brief the UN Security Council on Venezuela on Saturday, South Africa’s United Nations Ambassador Jerry Matjila told reporters on Thursday.

Erdogan says impossible for Turkey to approve developments in Venezuela

It is impossible for Turkey to approve of the developments in Venezuela, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, adding that he believed the people of Venezuela would continue to support President Nicolas Maduro

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Maltese counterpart in Ankara, Erdogan said he found US President Donald Trump’s comments on Venezuela shocking and added that democracies needed to respect election results.

At least 12 killed in latest violence: Monitoring group

A Venezuelan monitoring group says at least a dozen people have been killed by gunfire in a wave of anti-government unrest rocking Venezuela.

Coordinator Marco Ponce with the non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict gave the death toll and names of those reported dead to the Associated Press on Thursday.

Seven deaths had been reported earlier.

For a third consecutive night, there were reports of looting in poor neighbourhoods in Caracas and clashes between protesters and state security forces

Military commanders take to airwaves to vow loyalty to Maduro 

Military commanders across Venezuela are taking to the airwaves to vow loyalty to embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

Major General Victor Palacio said Thursday he categorically rejected any acts threatening stability in Venezuela.

Palacio is one of several generals who have been appearing on state TV, standing before dozens of soldiers in a show of military support.

Major General Manuel Gregorio Bernal also backed Maduro, saying the president represents an independent country in the face of imperialist aggression.

UN chief calls for dialogue to avoid violence 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for dialogue in Venezuela, saying violence or escalation should be avoided in Venezuela. 

“It is absolutely essential to have dialogue to avoid violence and avoid escalation,” Guterres said without elaborating. 

Venezuelan lawyers seek protection for Guaido 

Three Venezuelan lawyers are asking the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to grant precautionary measures to protect Guaido and his family. 

The document, filed only hours after Guaido declared himself an interim president of the country, states that the request does not equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Maduro administration.

Mexico urges two sides to hold talks 

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Thursday urged Maduro and Guaido to hold talks to avoid escalating violence in Venezuela. 

World powers denounce US interference

Turkey, Russia, and China have come to the defence of Venezuela’s embattled leader. 

“As a country that believes in democracy … wherever in the world there is a coup attempt, we stand against them all without distinction. Everyone has to respect the result of the ballot boxes,” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

China also denounced the foreign intervention into Venezuela’s domestic politics. 

“China always maintains the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, opposing external intervention in Venezuelan domestic affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Russia warned the US not to intervene militarily in Venezuela, saying its support for Guaido was a “path to lawlessness and bloodshed”.

Regional powers set to meet

On Thursday attention will shift to Washington where diplomats at the Organization of American States will hold an emergency meeting on the Venezuelan situation.

The debate promises to be charged, and the National Assembly’s newly picked diplomatic envoy will be lobbying to take Venezuela’s seat from Maduro’s ambassador.

Meanwhile, many Venezuelans will be looking for Guaido to re-emerge and provide guidance on the opposition’s next steps.

The armed forces’ top command is also expected to issue a statement, although nobody expects the generals’ loyalties to Maduro to have shifted.

“While it’s true that Guaido has been recognised internationally, the real power of the state is still in the hands of Nicolas Maduro,” said Ronal Rodriguez, a political science professor who focuses on Venezuela at Rosario University in Bogota.

Venezuela president denounces US ‘coup’ attempt

Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of orchestrating a coup d’etat while seeking to run Venezuela from Washington, DC. 

“Don’t trust the gringos,” he thundered to a crowd of red-shirted supporters gathered at the presidential palace. “They don’t have friends or loyalties. They only have interests … and the ambition to take Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold.” 

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said the armed forces did not recognise a self-proclaimed president “imposed by shadowy interests … outside the law”.

Wednesday, January 23

Lawyers ask for Guaido protection

Three Venezuelan lawyers ask the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to grant precautionary measures to protect Guaido, his wife and his daughter.

The request, shared with The Associated Press news agency by the lawyer Ignacio Alvarez, argues the measure is needed to safeguard the life, personal integrity and personal freedom of Guaido and his immediate family.

The document says the request does not equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Maduro government.

The human rights body of the Organization of American States has the authority to grant precautionary measures as a way to request states protection for persons at urgent and grave risk of suffering irreparable harm.

Mexico and Uruguay urge calm

Mexico and Uruguay call on all internal and external parties involved in Venezuela’s crisis to defuse tensions and prevent an escalation of violence.

Uruguay’s foreign ministry releases a statement saying the two countries are proposing a “new process of inclusive and credible negotiations with full respect for the rule of law and human rights” to resolve the dispute peacefully.

US: Maduro lacks authority to sever relations, expel diplomats

The US State Department says Maduro has no authority to cut diplomatic relations with Washington.

“The United States does not recognise the Maduro regime as the government of Venezuela,” it says in a statement.

“Accordingly the United States does not consider former president Nicolas Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations with the United States or to declare our diplomats persona non grata.”

Erdogan expresses solidarity with Maduro

Following Washington’s move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expresses solidarity with Maduro.

“Maduro brother, stand tall, Turkey stands with you, Erdogan tells President Nicolas Maduro by telephone,” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin writes on Twitter.

Kalin also shares the #WeAreMADURO hashtag to show solidarity.

Venezuelan defence minister backs Maduro

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino says via Twitter on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces disavow any president who is self-proclaimed or imposed by “dark interests”. 

Padrino vows that the armed forces will defend Venezuela’s constitution and national sovereignty. 

Maduro urges military unity

Maduro urges the military to maintain unity and discipline.

“We will triumph over this as well, we will come out victorious,” Maduro tells supporters outside the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. 

Maduro severs US ties

Just hours after the US backed the opposition leader, Maduro declares he is breaking relations with the US and gives its diplomatic personnel 72 hours to leave Venezuela.

Contacts have already been severely limited in recent years.

Bolivia, Cuba back Maduro 

Bolivia’s leftist President Evo Morales affirms his long-standing alliance with Maduro, offering to stand by Venezuela’s side against what he often calls US meddling in South America’s affairs.

“Our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our brother Nicolas Maduro, in these decisive hours in which the claws of imperialism seek again to mortally wound the democracy and self-determination of the peoples of South America,” Morales says in a Twitter post

Mexico also says it recognises “the authorities elected in accordance with the Venezuelan constitution”, seen as a lukewarm nod to Maduro, while Cuba expresses its “firm support” for the Venezuelan president after what it called a “coup attempt”. 

Other countries follow US 

Guaido gains recognition from a slew of right-wing or right-leaning Latin American governments, including Venezuela’s neighbours Brazil and Colombia. Guatemala and Costa Rica also recognise the opposition leader. 

Canada says it intends to back Guaido. 

Guaido’s declaration takes Venezuela into uncharted territory, with the possibility of the opposition now running a parallel government recognised abroad as legitimate but without control over state functions.

US recognises Guaido

Shortly after Guaido swears himself in, Trump officially recognises him as president.

“In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country’s constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant,” Trump says.

Guaido claims interim presidency

At a rally that brought hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans into the east of the capital, Caracas, Guaido says Maduro usurped power. 

Guaido, 35, promises to create a transitional government that would help the country escape its hyperinflationary economic collapse.

“I swear to assume all the powers of the presidency to secure an end to the usurpation,” Guaido tells the crowd. 

Protesters gather for competing rallies 

Pro-opposition and pro-government supporters stage rallies across the country. 

Thousands of anti-government protesters participate in marches to demand Maduro’s resignation and security forces fire tear gas at opposition demonstrators blocking a highway.

Meanwhile, government supporters hold counterrallies for Maduro.

Tuesday, January 22

US Vice President Mike Pence backs opposition 

US Vice President Mike Pence backs the anti-government protests in a video posted on Twitter.

“On behalf of President Donald Trump and all the American people, let me express the unwavering support of the United States as you, the people of Venezuela, raise your voices in a call for freedom,” Pence says in the taped message.

“Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power. He has never won the presidency in a free and fair election, and has maintained his grip on power by imprisoning anyone who dares to oppose him.”

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accuses Pence of “openly calling for a coup”. 

Opposition organises anti-Maduro rallies 

Protesters burn rubbish and clash with troops in dozens of Caracas neighbourhoods, Reuters news agency reports.

The Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, a body that monitors violence, says that a 16-year-old is killed overnight in the capital.

More protests are called for Wednesday.

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